steve centanni has the details. >> the man who currently holds the top spot at the pentagon defense secretary leon panetta appearing on the sunday talk shows and saying former nebraska senator chuck hagel is well prepared to succeed him in the job. suggesting the tough you questioning during thursday's heated confirmation hearing amounted to so much political theater. >> it is obvious that the political knives were out for chuck hagel. >> and meaning this was totally personal and partisan? >> what disappointed me is they talked a lot about past quotes. what about what a secretary of defense is confronting today. we just did not see enough time spent on discussing those issues and in the end that is what counts. >> panetta says hagel should have been questioned more about issues like the war in afghanistan and the war on terrorism in general or the turmoil in the middle east. cyber attacks and looming budget cuts that could severely impact the pentagon. he came under fire for past statements about israel, iran and nuclear strategy. as it stands at least 12 republicans plan to vote against. onl